A planning application to install 14 ‘smart hubs’ on streets in and around Newquay has been supported by the town council and Newquay Business Improvement District (BID).

However, a growing number of residents have concerns about the modern version of the now largely redundant telephone box.

Urban Innovation Company (UIC) has applied to Cornwall Council for permission for the Pulse Smart Hubs at various locations. The machines’ touchscreens provide free phone calls with a built-in speaker and receiver, free wi-fi, wireless mobile phone charging and digital maps.

The hubs also provide a built -in defibrillator and a “nasal Naloxone opioid antagonist” – a drug used for the emergency treatment of a drug overdose – as well as an emergency safety button to support anyone who is vulnerable and a 999 emergency button. They can also offer local information on what’s on, council services and helplines.

A planning report says the proposals are very strongly supported by the Safer Cornwall Partnership which recognises that the hubs would deliver a range of benefits for residents, businesses and visitors to Cornwall which “support vibrant, safe, supportive communities, alongside enhancing digital infrastructure and supporting local economic development. The need to plan for greater investment in world-class digital infrastructure is critical to the continued social, economic and environmental success of this country and this has been brought into sharper focus by the recent Covid-19 pandemic”.

The 14 proposed locations, which have been developed in collaboration with Newquay Town Council, Newquay BID, Devon and Cornwall Police and Cornwall Council, are:

Location 1: Pavement adjacent to 55 to 57 Bank Street

Location 2: Pavement adjacent to 62-70 Berry Road

Location 3: Pavement outside 8 Bank Street, Central Square

Location 4: Pavement adjacent to 2 to 6 Chester Road

Location 5: Pavement adjacent to Fore Street Car Park

Location 6: Verge adjacent to Hendra Holiday Park, West Road (A392)

Location 7: Pavement outside Kwik Fit, 244-246 Henver Road

Location 8: Verge outside McDonalds and Lidl, Treloggan Road

Location 9: Pavement adjacent to 12 to 15 Cliff Road, Newquay Railway Station

Location 10: Pavement outside Premier Inn, Quintrell Downs

Location 11: Verge outside South Fistral Car Park, Pentire Road

Location 12: Pavement outside Tesco Express, 1 to 15 Narrowcliff

Location 13: Pavement outside Chi Myghtern Lewdh building, William Hoskin Road, Nansledan

Location 14: Pavement adjacent to Newquay Golf Club opposite 2 to 10 Headland Road

Despite the support from public bodies there has been growing dissent on social media pages dedicated to Newquay, with residents airing their concerns about obstruction on the streets, increased digital advertising and light pollution among other issues. “They’re totally unnecessary and will just add to the already overwhelming and messy/ugly street furniture in the town,” said one local.

There are also a number of comments on Cornwall Council’s planning portal. A resident wrote: “Newquay needs to be brightened with flowers for pollinators, continued focus on accessible pavements and better cycle routes. Funding going into ugly advertising boards could be put into making Newquay nicer rather than an impersonal ugly place. Also, how tone deaf, when we’re in a long energy crisis, to flaunt that someone has money to put into electricity for advertising boards, when families didn’t heat their homes last winter.”

Another added: “These digital signs in my opinion do not fit and are not in keeping with the surroundings, especially the one proposed for Headland Road as visitors to Newquay get their first glimpses of the view across the Fistral beach. In my view, they are incredibly obtrusive and are not in keeping with the beautiful vista across the golf course with Fistral Beach in the distance. I can understand ones located in the town centre which do appear to fit in with the urban environment.”

For more details see planning application PA25/01900 on Cornwall Council’s website: planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=neighbourComments&keyVal=SSYC5BFGI0Z00